“Governor Awesome” Is Unsuitable for Higher Office

I love watching clips of Christie speaking to voters like adults. Whether he’s describing his own state as a “failed experiment” or jousting with his favoritepiñata, the teacher’s union, it’s refreshing to watch him.

Since then I’ve shrugged off a few times when I’ve thought his candor has lapsed into bullying. But the ugly confrontation on Saturday is simply appalling.

At an impromptu news conference about a major water-treatment emergency in Monmouth County, Christie had specified that he would take questions only about the current topic. When a reporter dared to ask an innocuous question on a different subject, Christie snarled, “”Did I say on topic?! Are you stupid?! On topic! On topic. Next question.” He doubled-down seconds later, ending the session with “Thank you all very much — and I’m sorry for that idiot over there.”

“Governor Awesome” (an unregistered trademark of Tigerhawk) has been talked about as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney. I’ve been hoping Romney will look elsewhere so that Christie can continue his efforts to put the state on a more solid financial footing. But now I’m also very leery of putting a man with appalling judgment and serious anger-management issues a heartbeat away from the nuclear codes.

Perhaps, but he at least has conviction and is from the reality wing of the party. Whoever gets that veep won’t make any difference, unless it’s a negative, e.g. Rubio seems to be in conflict with his previous policy and with his Latino supporters as he decries Obama’s immigration policy. Though that makes him a perfect comrade to Romney.